During over 10 years that Nigel worked for the BFAWU, the Union developed one of the most respected approached to trade union health and safety within the Trades Union Congress (TUC) affiliated unions. The key achievements during his time at the BFAWU were:
- The establishment of a National Health and Safety Structure of Regional Committees and a National Committee that focused on health and safety.
- Developing workplace based training for BFAWU Safety Representatives.
- Working with the HSE and employers' organisations to reduce accidents in the bread industry. When he started in the BFAWU the bread sector had one of the highest accident rates in foom manufacturing, when he left it had one of the lowest. In the HSE Recipe for Safety Initiative, the breadsector had the greatest accident reduction of all the food manufacturing sectors - 36% in 10 years.
- Developing workplace based training for BFAWU Safety Representatives.
- Working with the HSE and employers' orgainsations to reduce accidents in the bread industry. When he started in the BFAWU the bread sector had one of the highest accident rates in food manufacturing, when he left it had one of the lowest. In the HSE Recipe for Safety Initiative, the bread sector had the greatest accident reduction of all the food manufacturing sectors - 36% in 10 years.
- Assisting the Bakeries in Liaison Health and Safety Committee become an industry standard setting organisation.
- Being a UK delegate to CEN TC 153: Food Equipment Standards Committee. During this time he was heavily involved with the development of food machinery standards under the European Machinery Directive
- Writing over 126 articles on health and safety in the Food Industry within the BFAWU Journal – The Food Worker.
- Helping establish the industry to recognise Occupational Asthma as a Prescribed Industrial Disease and promote dust suppression methods in bakeries.
During his time at the BFAWU Nigel also completed two projects for the International Union of Foodworkers. These were the following:
Hong Kong Trade Union Federation
Nigel was the facilitator for a week long South Asian Workers’ Health and Safety Workshop in 1987. This included delegates from Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.
Uganda Food and Catering Worker’s Union
Nigel developed, wrote the syllabus and materials and tutored a 1 week training course delivered to representatives from the Hotel and Catering Workers Union and Food Workers Union in Uganda in 1991. This was developed further in 1992 with a follow on course that he organised again.